General News

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 3, 21 April 1894, Page 8

General News

Farmers will be pleased to know that a slight rise has taken place in oats, the price quoted in our commercial column being Is 3d. for good milling, and Is 2d for good feed. Number two of “ Grandfather’s Yarns ” given this week, is mainly mted to the first land sale in Otago, of which a graphic sketch is given.

The programme for Mr A. F. Lithgow’s farewell concert on Monday night is published in this issue, It is full of good things, vocal and instrumental, sentimental and humourous, and contains no fewer than 24 items, or nearly double the usual concert bill of fare, so that apart from the occasion, the audience will get more than their money’sworth.

The Forest Hill tramway road contract hasbeen secured by Thomson Bros, and Co, at £B6 10s.

Sir G. Grey reached Home on his 82nd birthday, and was cordially received.

Madame Carandini, whose charming singing has delighted thousands of colonial theatre-goers, is dead. North Melbourne has been the scene of a horrible murder, an old Frenchman named Eugene Posset having been battered to death, and robbed.

The death is announced of David Grant, the last survivor of the ill-fated steamer Forfarshire, wrecked on the Fame Islands, and one of those who owed their lives to the heroism of Grace Darling.

In a walking contest at Albany, West Australia, one of the competitors, named Clark, lowered the world’s record for 10 miles by S^min.

More white elephants. Admiral Vail on’s report respecting the danger of the ironclad Magenta capsizing at the first impact applies to all the large French ironclads.

There will be an interesting meeting at the Auckland Islands shortly, the s.s. Hinemoa having been sent off to prevent the Norwegian whaler Antarctic from poaching on the sealeries.

When giving his evidence at an inquest recently, Dr De Lautour,’ of Oamaru, remarked that it was a mistake to suppose that every person who became immersed in water rose three times. Frequently a person would only rise once, especially if a large quantity of water were swallowed at the first disappearance beneath the surface, Mr C. S. Eoss, who lately returned from a northern trip, had his camera in constant requisition while away, and secured a number of views of various places of interest. These, with some local scenes, form a capital collection, and such was the opinion arrived at by the ladies and gentlemen who on Thursday evening were invited to a private exhibition of the pictures. The slides and light were worked by Mr Ross, who also had something to say regarding the places reproduced.

Noticing our recent article on South Invercargill, Mr James Johnston, of Clifton, sends a long letter in reference to some of the things that have happened in the South Ward. We cannot go into the subject of the burning of two of his houses through sawmill fires, as the matter was settled in his favour before reaching the Supreme Court. The rest of the letter is devoted to showing that South Ward is not fairly treated in the expenditure of rates.

Yery general regret was felt in town when it ■was learned on Wednesday that Dr Hanan had passed away in Auckland at the comparatively early age of 46 years. The deceased gentleman ari’ived here about twenty years ago, and was for a time surgeon of the Invercargill Hospital. He speedily secured a large practice, and was for many years connected with the local Friendly Societies, with whom, thanks to his skill and attention, he speedily became a general favourite. When compelled by ill-health to leave for Auckland, he was the recipient of a very handsome testimonial from the united Societies, and his letter of acknowledgment, couched in the kindliest and most feeling terms, was only read at the last meeting of the Shamrock, Hose, and Thistle Lodge of Oddfellows. The cause of death was heart disease.

A commission agent named Jabez Mather started business in Wellington with £9O, part of which was borrowed. He gradually lost capital, and lately filed with liabilities to the tune of L 1,570. The Official Assignee told told him that he should have filed long ago, and that he had been'liying on his creditors-.

At the last meeting of the Otago School Commissioners Mr Bain gave notice of motion as follows :—“ That in the event of any billbeing introduced into Parliament giving extended powers to School Commissioners, the Government be requested 1o make provision for the commissioners granting subsidies to existing public libraries in any district where education endowments are situated.” William John Atkinson, for whom Mr Macalister appears, was charged on remand at the Police Court on Thursday with having burned down a house at Grove Bush, and with having attempted to obtain certain moneys under false pretences from two insurance companies. The case was continued yesterday, accused being committed fortrial.

An Industrial School hoy named Ernest Fake; ■when was hired out by Mr Evans, of Hokonui, has been drowned in the Otapiri river. /

A mail for the United- Kingdom closes at Invercargill at 1 p.m. to-day. Mr W. H. Matbieson is a strong believer in advertising, and in next issue our readers will be given a proof of this in the shape of a pictorial supplement. Mr E. E. Godward, who recently pulled off several of the principal races at the local cycling club’s sports, has con menced business in Dee street as an expert in bicycles, &c. Mr Godward was connected with two large manufactories in London, and has lately been employed in Dunedin by Mr Steadman as head mechanic. .Among bis stock will be machines from some of the best Home makers. The Auckland r i ailoresses’ Union is discussing the establishment of a co-operative factory.-^ A lady high in society has been arrested in Antwerp for poisoning her uncle, sister, and brother to obtain their life insurance money—some £6OOO.

While coming into town on Thursday, Mr S. McDowell, contractor, West Plains, fell under a loaded waggon, and sustained a compound fracture of the right arm He is under treatment in the hospital. Heavy rain fell throughout Otago on Wednesday and part of Thursday, the resulting floods doing some damage to the railway lines, and inundating the township of Kelso.

The shearers of New South Wales are, it is said, resolved to strike rather than aecepfc a reduction of rates.

The Thursday half-holiday has been virtually abandoned in Dunedin. The hearing of the petition against the Invercargill licensing elections was resumed on Thursday, and will probably be concluded to-day.

The Unite! Friendly Societies’ Gala Committee held another meeting on Monday night, when it was intimated that the Theatre Royal and Zealandia Hall had been secured for the concert and hall respectively on the 131 hof June. All arrangements are now in a very forward stale, and the committee are sparing no pains to make the forthcoming demonstration a record one.

Baron Hirsch lately entertained sixty millionaires at dinner in London. The total cost of the banquet was £1,200, or £2O per head for a single meal. This in a city where a number of people die every year from starvation. And yet certain grave and reverend editors who preach unceasingly about the necessity for thrift on the part of the working classes are astonished and alarmed at the advance of socialism.

"With increasing business Messrs Kelpe and jßobertson, cabinet-makers, have found it necessary to remove to larger and more central premises. They now occupy a shop in Esk street, opposite Moffett’s cordial manufactory, and make a specialty of manufacturing and renovating furniture of all kinds. They have just finished a drawing-room suite made of red pine and upholstered in silk tapestry with plush borders. The design is old English, and the suite, which is well finished, will be on view at the shop this evening.

Some of the pictures shown at the Exhibition in Christchurch by Mr H. S' Moreton have been adversely criticised by ".Bohemian ” in the Press, with the result that “ Pair Play ” has come to the rescue with a letter in which he says :—MrMoreton’s colonial reputation can stand many altacks like “Bohemian’s,” for he has been accustomed to it for years, and the fact remains that there are more pictm’cs in New Zealand homes signed “H. S. Moreton ” than by any other colonial artist.

Another substantial building has recently been added to the number already in Spey st., viz., the establishment of Mr R. J. B. Yule, surgeon dentist. It is situated close to Dee street, and will be found convenient for town or country patients. The four rooms - are splendidly lighted, as is necessary, the two hack ones being used as surgeries and those in front as workshop and waiting-room respectively. Mr Yule, whose skill has gained for him a very wide connection, has spared no expense in studying the comfort of his patients. There was a very good attendance at the ordinary meeting of the Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle Lodge, 1.0.0.F.,M.XJ., on Tuesday last. Among the visitors were the district officers, several members of the St. George Lodge, and Bro. J. Leydon, P.G.M., of the Auckland District. Several interesting addresses were given by some of the visitors. The G.M. of the Invercargill District (Bro. C. S. Brass) in the course of his remarks, spoke in high terms of the manner in which the Juvenile Lodge was worked, and the Deputy G.M. (Bro. J. Stead) dealt with the attitude taken up by a section of the medical profession in the North Island in regard to Erien ctly Societies. Bro. Tcdd also spoke on behalf of the St. George brethren, and Bro. Leydon gave some interesting details re OddMlowship in Auckland. At the close of the business, which included the initiation of three new members, an hour was devoted to harmony. Bros. Bisset and McLean contributed two readings of a highly mirthful character ; Bros. J, S. Goldie, N. Mcßobie, J. Kingsland, and Todd, and Mr Edwards, •did good service as vocalists (Mr Edwards, who also accompanied most of the singers, securing an imperative encore) ; and Bros. Eingsland and Grace gave a very deftly executed double step dance.

A painful sensation was caused in .town last Sunday, when it became known that Mr Hugh Ferguson, eldest son of the late Mr Neil Ferguson, had been found dead on the premises of Messrs Carswell and Co., Crescent. The discovery was made by Mr J. Carswell, son of the principal of the firm, -who, when passing along Wood street, noticed that the back door was open. On entering he found the deceased, who was occasionally engaged by the firm, lying at the foot of the stair, his face on the floor, and his legs resting on the lower steps. ■ His face was bathed in blood. Medical assistance was promptly summoned, but the appearance of the body showed that death had occurred some hours before, and that the deceased had tripped in coming downstairs, and died from the flow of blood to the head. He was last seen on Saturday afternoon, and it is supposed that he went, to the place then to attend to some Matters usually left to Ms care. Like his father, Hugh Ferguson took a keen interest in the doings of the Caledonian Society, and has left tangible proof of this in a book recording all the times, distances, etc., in connection with the games for the last twenty years. He made himself exceedingly useful to the office-bearers, and also to the reporters, sparing no effort to see t! at they were furnished with accurate details. The funeral took place on Tuesday, and was very largely attended by town and country residents, among them the officers and directors of the Caledonian and Irish Athletic Societies. A successful entertainment in the form of a concert and dance in aid of the library fund took place in the large dining ball of the Ocean Beach Freezing Works on the evening of Wednesday last —Mr D. Mitchell (chief engineer) presiding. Although the night was wild, wet and miserable, the place was well filled with a most appreciative audience. The ma jority of the performers came from Invercargill Miss Morrison, Miss K. Kirwan, Miss Nichol, an dj Messrs A. F. LithgowjE. W. Wright, T. J. Anthony, and W. J. Mclveown, and last, though not least, the vetei’an R. B. Wetton, who appeared on this occasion for the first time since his late illness, and who, by his quaint humour in a stump speech introducing local hits, scored well, proving that he is still up to the mark. The duet between Miss K. Kirwan and Mr T. J. Anthony, “ The Happy Policeman,” greatly pleased everybody, while Mr Wright's “Jock McCraw ” “fetched them properly.” Mr McKeown’s song gave every satisfaction to his hearers, while Mr T. J. Anthony, as usual, put one and all in the most mirthful mood. The cornet solo by Mr A. F. Lithgow was a treat in itself, and well deserved the recall which it obtained. The singing of Miss Moi’rison delighted her hearers, and she will always be welcome. The songs were accompanied by Miss Kirwan, who gave the utmost satisfaction. Miss A. Nichol contributed a pianoforte selection. After the concert a dance took place, the music being supplied by Miss and Mr Couling (piano and violin) and Mr Lithgow (cornet). All went merrily as a marriage bell until the w'ee sma’ boors, when good-byes were said, and all departed well pleased -with their night at the Freezing Works.